In which we bring you motoring news from around the Web:
• At a press event last month, Audi screened a promotional video featuring its restyled A6 Avant wagon being driven through an evocatively lit Berlin. The spot bore a strong likeness to the “Imported from Detroit” ad for the Chrysler 200 sedan, featuring Eminem, that aired during Super Bowl XLV. A lawsuit has since been brought by Eight Mile Style, the rights owner of the theme to “Lose Yourself,” which played in the Chrysler ad, accusing Audi AG of unlicensed use of the song. The music in question begins at the 30-second mark in the Audi spot. (Adweek)
• Last month, for the first time since 2006, General Motors, Ford and Chrysler ranked first, second and third in terms of sales in the United States. However, overall car and truck sales in May were at their lowest levels of the year, which analysts attributed to weakening consumer confidence and higher prices. Additionally, shortages of some Japanese models contributed to the depressed sales. Meanwhile, Volkswagen reported sales gains of 24 percent, Hyundai posted a 21 percent rise and Kia sales increased 53 percent. (The New York Times)
• Incentives for new-car purchases were at their lowest in nine years last month, contributing to a significant increase in the average transaction price for passenger cars and trucks. TrueCar stated that the year over year increase from May 2010 to May 2011 was $608. The average incentive, meanwhile, dropped from $2,839 a year ago to $2,017 last month. Following a month of depressed sales, incentives are expected to return this month, the report said. (TrueCar)
• Volkswagen, which marked the 35th anniversary of its GTI this week with a special-edition model limited to European markets, is showing a Golf R Cabriolet concept at Wörthersee, Austria, where the world’s largest GTI club meet is taking place. The soft-top concept produces 270 horsepower, 14 more than estimates for the Golf R hardtop bound for the United States early next year. (AutoEvolution)
• Ford F-150 pickups equipped with V-6 engines outpaced sales of their V-8 counterparts in May, accounting for 55 percent of total sales for the segment-leading pickup. The 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 contributed 41 percent, while the 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V-6 unit added an additional 14 percent. (PickupTrucks.com)
• Following an espionage scandal, Carlos Ghosn, the Renault-Nissan chairman, was asked this week by French officials to spend more time in Renault’s home market. The French government owns a 15 percent stake in Renault, and according to Automotive News Europe, officials asked Mr. Ghosn to be more present in France as a condition of appointing Carlos Tavares, the former Nissan Americas head, to be his new deputy. (Automotive News Europe)
This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read the FAQ at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php#publishers. Five Filters featured article: You Cannot Kill An Ideology With A Gun.
No comments:
Post a Comment